Title: Big Ben

Author: Sarah Ellis

Themes: Communication, Parenting, Developing Empathy, Validation, Self-Esteem, Social Skills

Age Recommendation: Pre-K through Elementary School 

Summary: Big Ben actually feels more like little Ben in this book. Ben is a preschooler who wishes he had more responsibility and status because his older siblings seem to enjoy school more than he does. Ben expresses his feelings to his parents and siblings, who validate him and find ways to include him in all the "big kid" activities. 

Ideas / Interventions:  like to use this book with kids who are struggling to develop empathy for others, whether within a family or in other social settings. The ways that Ben's family meet his needs are simple but meaningful. After reading this book and identifying ways that Ben's family helped him, and then talking about how much their efforts impacted his self esteem, have your client talk about things others do that help them feel good about themselves. Then help them set specific goals of what they can do for certain people between sessions. Start very small with this exercise. Kids who struggle to be kind to others are often victims of unkindness themselves, so being sensitive to that fact is important.